When Catholics dropped the Bible

The chilling sight of Norwegian mass-killer, Anders Behring Breivik, giving a fascist salute when he appeared in an Oslo court this week is symbolic of a worrying minority trend: in the face of a perceived threat from the complex pluralistic world we live in, a retreat by some into the fortress of narrow militant extremist ideology.

In all religious traditions, this is seen the world over in the rise of fundamentalism, sometimes linked to violence and terrorism. This has raised several key question for religions: how to interpret sacred scriptures, how to educate ordinary believers about appropriate interpretation, and how to apply this to everyday life.

The man featured in this week's interview on Eureka Street TV has devoted his life to these questions. Australian Salesian priest, Frank Moloney, is one of the world's leading biblical scholars. In this 50th anniversary year of the start of the Second Vatican Council, he reflects on the momentous changes brought about by the Council on the way Catholics should interpret the Bible, and its place in the life of the Church.

Born in Melbourne and educated by the Christian Brothers at Moonee Ponds, Moloney joined the Salesians of Don Bosco in 1960, and taught in their high schools after completing his bachelor's degree.

In 1966 he went to Rome to further his studies. In 1970 he gained a Licence in Sacred Theology from the Salesian Pontifical University, and in 1972 a Licence in Sacred Scripture from the Pontifical Biblical Institute. From 1972–75 he studied at Oxford University in the UK, gaining his PhD for a thesis looking at the term 'Son of Man' in John's Gospel.

He returned to Australia where he became Professor of New Testament at the Catholic Theological College, part of the Melbourne College of Divinity. During this period he was also visiting professor at a number of prestigious institutions overseas including the Salesian Pontifical University and Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome, and the Ecole Biblique in Jerusalem.

In 2006 he returned to Australia to take up the role of Provincial Superior of the Salesians. He was the first theologian to be elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Humanities in 1992, and a few years later was honoured with an Order of Australia for his services to Australian religion and culture.

Moloney is a founding editor of the Australian theological journalPacifica, and an associate editor of The Catholic Biblical Quarterly. He is a prolific author, penning a huge number of scholarly and popular articles, and more than 40 books. In 2007, with popular novelist Jeffrey Archer, he co-authored The Gospel According to Judas.

To make or read comments on this article click here.Peter Kirkwood is a freelance writer and video consultant who worked for 23 years in the Religion and Ethics Unit of ABC TV. He has a Master's degree from the Sydney College of Divinity.

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